ASU student's death leaves friends, family struggling

by Bonnie Delaney - Jul. 7, 2010 11:53 AMAshbury Park Press

POINT PLEASANT, N.J. - What family and friends of Kyleigh Ann Sousa have been doing the past six weeks - from creating a foundation to getting tattoos - pays tribute to the vibrant student who was killed in Arizona when her purse was snatched.

From the foundation recently established in her memory, to the tattoos - matching what she had - inked by Tommy Beerman of Jersey Tattoos in Toms River, those who loved and knew Sousa are struggling with the realization they must live the rest of their lives without her.

Several of Sousa's organs were donated: her heart to a 30-year-old woman; each kidney to older patients suffering kidney failure; and her liver to another woman who did not survive the transplant.

And interviews with the media, no matter how difficult they are for her mother, Karen Montenegro, are a way for the family to keep Sousa's name in the news with the hope that police will get the tip that will lead them to those responsible for her death.

Sousa, 21, was fatally injured in the early morning hours of May 26 in Tempe, where she attended Arizona State University. A motorist grabbed Sousa and her purse. She was caught in the purse straps and dragged as the driver sped away.

On Tuesday morning, Sousa's mother; her brothers, Bernie Sousa, 32, of Philadelphia and Mike Sousa, 18, here; and her best friend, Larissa Kaim, 22, of Brick, talked about how they are coping with her death. Her father, Ed Sousa, also here, was unable to take off from work for the interview but had wanted to come, Bernie Sousa said.

"I never thought I'd get a tattoo," said Montenegro, as she sat on the couch next to her sons in the living room in her home on River Avenue. "Now, I have two."

Her tattoos are on the inside of each wrist. Angel wings are on one wrist; on the other, the Hawaiian word "Ohana," which means family - both extended and related by blood.

Kyleigh Sousa, who spent her freshman year at Hawaii Pacific University but transferred to Arizona State University a year later because Hawaii was so far, had both tattoos as well as a starburst.

Beerman did all of the family's tattoo tributes to Kyleigh for free, as well as those for some of her friends, Montenegro said.

The family has been flooded with e-mails, phone calls, messages, letters, cards, flowers, food and other offers of help. Montenegro said that while she appreciates the outpouring of compassion, she is overwhelmed.

"I'm not in the frame of mind to deal with others' grief yet, or my own," she said. "At this time, I just need to spend time with my boys, Larissa, and a few other friends and my family."

"I have a long road ahead of me," added Montenegro, who has not yet returned to work as an interior designer.

Montenegro said she often visits her daughter's grave at Greenwood Cemetery in Brielle and recently stopped by with balloons, one saying "Princess" and another, "I Love You."

The family members alternated between talking about their memories - describing Sousa as loud, boisterous, messy, ambitious and someone who loved to laugh - and expressing their anger.

"After it happened, I said I could forgive the person who did this, but as time has gone by I know I never can forgive," Montenegro said.

"As a mother my grief is beyond words. The person who did this was brazen and bold and had no regard for her life," she said.

Bernie Sousa said his anger is mixed in with the horror of what happened to his sister, whom he described as his best friend.

Although the family has considered hiring a private investigator to find Sousa's killer, the members said they are holding off because they are satisfied that Tempe police are actively investigating.

Although the nonprofit Silent Witness Program is offering an $11,000 reward for information that can lead to the arrest or indictment of the motorist, no one has been charged.

Sousa had little, if any, money in the purse but it contained her driver's license, and credit and debit cards, her mother said. The purse has not been recovered.

The suspect is described as a heavyset Hispanic man between 20 and 25 years old who was wearing a teal/green shirt, possibly with stripes. He was driving a newer model silver Chrysler 300 or Dodge Charger, Tempe police said.

Four to five other men also were in the car when the driver called out to Sousa and a male friend who were in the parking lot of an IHOP Restaurant at 1:45 a.m. May 26, according to police.

When Sousa and the friend walked away from the car and she turned her back, the driver lunged halfway out of the car to grab her and her purse, police said. Entangled in the purse straps, Sousa was dragged as the car sped away. When she got free she struck her head, suffering massive facial and head injuries, police said.

Sgt. Steve Carbajal, a Tempe police spokesman, said in an e-mail that the investigation is continuing.

Bernie Sousa said police have received nearly 500 leads, many relating to the car used in the crime.

In addition, Fox Television's "America's Most Wanted," which airs at 9 p.m. Saturday nights, is expected to air a segment on the murder at the end of August, Montenegro said.

On June 22, Sousa and Montenegro went to Tempe to clean out Kyleigh's apartment and pick up her personal belongings. They asked the public again for help in finding her killer and hung up more fliers to keep Kyleigh's name in the news.

Two days later, the family attended Point Pleasant Borough High School graduation ceremonies, where Mike Sousa, 18, graduated. He will leave in August to attend West Virginia University, his older brother's alma mater.

Montenegro said she feels fortunate that she and son Mike were able to spend four or five days visiting Kyleigh in Arizona two weeks before her death.

During that visit, she snapped the last photograph of her daughter as they dined at a restaurant.